Skip to main content

You're viewing a previously published revision of this guide.  View latest revision

Older Newer

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has created severe shortages of protective airway equipment. Providers are forced to forego adequate personal protection due to dwindling supply PAPR, CAPR, and N95 mask supply. Masks that should be single use are being ad-hoc sterilized and reused.

It is for this emergent need, that I am releasing this buildable protective respirator design. Although this is not an FDA approved product, I am making this available as a physician anesthesiologist doing his "good samaritan" duty. I have applied my 30 years of medical experience and design skills to create and test this design. Although I believe the physics to be sound, but use of this Halo respirator is at your sole discretion and risk.

The Bunny Science Halo is intended to achieve protection by keeping the users entire head in a positive pressure, clean gas environment. It is easily buildable. Equally important in these times of scarcity, its disposables are easily obtained.

  1. The Halo can be configured for three types of virus-free air. Oxygen / Compressed breathable air via small diameter O2 tubing is simplest option. Flow should be 10L/min. Filtered PAPR uses anesthesia viral filter and fan to provide clean air. 12 volt battery pack or AC adapter provides power.
    • The Halo can be configured for three types of virus-free air.

    • Oxygen / Compressed breathable air via small diameter O2 tubing is simplest option. Flow should be 10L/min.

    • Filtered PAPR uses anesthesia viral filter and fan to provide clean air. 12 volt battery pack or AC adapter provides power.

    • External Air via 22 mm connectors for connection of an external fan driven, filtered air source such as a Bair Hugger.

  2. Positive pressure, filtered or medically clean gas inflow maintains isolation just as in a conventional PAPR
    • Positive pressure, filtered or medically clean gas inflow maintains isolation just as in a conventional PAPR

    • Plastic bag completely encloses head

    • Comfortable, yet effective seal around neck with personal utility strap.

    • Expiration is via one way valved ports. System is kept under positive pressure. In actual usage, the valves rarely actually need to close.

    • Warning: Do not seal bag unless fresh gas inflow and expiratory ports are present.

  3. Bag needs to be large enough and well sealed. Many readily available bags are usable. Adequate seal and gas flow are readily readily monitored by bag's positive pressure inflation. View window is easily added to any bag using packing tape and a piece of transparent plastic sheeting like laser print film or even mask visors.
    • Bag needs to be large enough and well sealed. Many readily available bags are usable.

    • Adequate seal and gas flow are readily readily monitored by bag's positive pressure inflation.

    • View window is easily added to any bag using packing tape and a piece of transparent plastic sheeting like laser print film or even mask visors.

  4. Halo flexes to conform to most head sizes. It is the base to which components are mounted to for desired airflow configuration.
    • Halo flexes to conform to most head sizes. It is the base to which components are mounted to for desired airflow configuration.

    • Oxygen line mounting clips

    • Front fan mounting point

    • Rear air connector block mounting point

    • Expiratory ports with 22 mm OD fittings for optional corrugated expiration tubes.

  5. Expiratory flow through the bag is through one way flutter valve. These screw onto the halo to form an airtight, penetration through the bag. Flutter valves are fashioned from a cut-off glove finger rubber banded onto Flutter Valve Penetrator. End of finger is cut to allow air exit, but reverse flow is immediately stopped.
    • Expiratory flow through the bag is through one way flutter valve. These screw onto the halo to form an airtight, penetration through the bag.

    • Flutter valves are fashioned from a cut-off glove finger rubber banded onto Flutter Valve Penetrator. End of finger is cut to allow air exit, but reverse flow is immediately stopped.

    • Halo operates with continuous positive pressure, the flutter valves rarely if ever need to close. Even during inspiration, the bag remains slightly pressurized.

    • Never use flutter valve penetrators without glove tips acting as valves and reverse flow reserve volume.

Guy Kuo

Member since: 6/1/19

885 Reputation

3 Guides authored

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 25

All Time: 10,169